Capital better! Boxers’ London debut

A TEAM of four boxers from Islington Boxing Club answered the capital’s call on Saturday when they represented London for the very first time.

Matin Camara, Bobby Moore, Connor Daly and Harry Betteridge all swapped their gym in Hazellville Road, Upper Holloway, for the ring at Gosport Boxing Club to take on representatives from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Amateur Boxing Association.

First up was Moore who, in only his second competitive bout, took on Logan Roseby from Titchfield ABC at 57kg. The 14-year-old boxed on the back foot throughout the contest and landed the cleaner punches to win the contest via a split decision.

Islington club-mate Betteridge was next in the ring. The 15-year-old displayed great fortitude as he recovered from a slow start to narrowly beat Daniel Couzens from Titchfield ABC ­following three tough rounds at 50kg.

Camara was unable to keep the winning run going, however, as he lost his bout against Ali Ward from Legacy ABC. After three rounds Ward won the 64kg contest by a unanimous decision.

“Matin never got going. He injured his elbow early on in the contest which hindered him from doing much,” said Islington club manager Reggie Hagland Hagland.

Competing at 53kg, Daly fought a familiar foe in his bout as he faced Fareham ABC’s Louis Small for the fourth time. The Islington man started off by trying to land big haymakers early on, which Hagland said “was the wrong tactic against an opponent who is comfortably boxing on the back foot”.

It allowed Small to pick his punches, catching Daly with counter-punches to take the first round. Daly boxed more sensible in the second round and started to find his range, catching Small with the cleaner punches to tie the score at 1-1.

Both boxers knew that it was all on the last three minutes of the contest, and in the end it was Daly’s arm that was raised in victory, sealing a 6-4 win for the London Boxing select team.